Alanna Heiss

25 Programs

Alanna Heiss

Host, Curator, Staff

Alanna Heiss, Director of Clocktower Productions, is a leader of the groundbreaking early 1970’s alternative spaces movement in New York City, which radically changed the way large-scale art projects were produced, shown, and seen. In 1972 she founded the legendary Clocktower Gallery, and in 1976 she founded P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center (now MoMA PS1) which she directed for 32 years, and transformed into an internationally renowned non-collecting center for the production and presentation of contemporary art.

Heiss has organized over 700 exhibitions at P.S.1 and in art spaces around the world. In 2003 founded Art Radio WPS1.org, the Internet radio station of P.S.1 and first ever all-art museum station. Among her numerous publications are catalogues of the work of Janet Cardiff, Alex Katz, Dennis Oppenheim, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Katharina Sieverding, and John Wesley.

Heiss was Commissioner of the 1985 Paris Biennial, and Commissioner of the 1986 American Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. She served as Chief Curator of the Tribute for John Cage, organized for the 1993 Venice Biennial, and as the Curatorial Director of the 2002 Shanghai Biennale, and she was a panelist for the 2005 Yokohama Triennial. She is the recipient of the Mayor’s Award for Contributions to the Artistic Viability of New York City, France’s Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in the Légion d’Honneur, the Royal Swedish Order of the Polar Star, the Skowhegan Award for outstanding work in the arts, and the CCS Bard Award for Curatorial Excellence.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1943, Ms. Heiss resides in New York City with her husband, Fredrick Sherman.

Radio Featuring Alanna Heiss

Radio

Clocktower Radio Profiles

The L.A.-based artist describes the creation of his cast ceramic articles of clothing, his furniture line called Trophy Modern, the L.A. music and performance scene and more in this chat during his Spring 2014 show at Untitled Gallery in NYC.

Radio

Pioneer Works Radio Channel

Recorded during our debut party for our radio and perations center at Pioneer Works, entertaining and informative interviews and prognostications on the past, present, and future of Clocktower Productions. With Alanna Heiss, Delphine Blue, many more.

Radio

Living History

Artist Eve Essex and Clocktower Director Alanna Heiss gathered a group of music enthusiasts from different backgrounds and experiences together for casual but topical discussion on the evolving art of instrument building and its impact on music.

Radio

Living History

On the occasion of their visit to New York to open their London Pictures exhibition at Lehmann Maupin Gallery and Sonnabend (26 April – 23 June 2012) Gilbert & George sat down at the Clocktower Gallery with Alanna Heiss and Jessica Craig-Martin.

Radio

Clocktower Exhibits & Events

A live set by the Brazlilian chorinho band, Regional de NY recorded during the Clocktower Gallery's Samba na Casa do Gato celebration for Valentine's Day 2012, an evening of food, music and love hosted by journalist/organizer Thiago Carrapatoso.

Radio

Clocktower Exhibits & Events

Guitarist/composer Elliott Sharp in a solo for guitars and electronics at the Clocktower Gallery on Jan. 24, 2012 as part of the Canyon Candy exhibition performance series. Sharp created a new soundtrack for a classic sci-fi flick by Ray Harryhausen.

Radio

Clocktower Radio Profiles

Curators Alanna Heiss and Joe Ahearn host the insightful and provocative curator, producer, and professor from Tokyo, Kazue Kobata. The discussion revolves around the state of the performing arts and their relation to performance art.

Radio

Clocktower Radio Profiles

The writer talks about his work including his 2011 novel, Noon, about a young man who, in a quest to rediscover and understand his family ties to India and Pakistan, finds himself confronted with worlds of power, corruption, and great violence.

Radio

Venice Biennale

A candid conversation about process and style, the virtues and liabilities of writing film music, and a little history and fantasy, including the tale of the Portsmouth Sinfonia and some tracks from Collections, his CD of music, film, & photographs.

Radio

Venice Biennale

Alanna Heiss talks to curators Tim Nye and Jacqueline Miro of Nyehaus about their exhibition of revolutionary artists from the 1960s in Venice, California, being transported to the 2011 Venice Biennale, with works by dozens, from Celmins to Ruscha...

Radio

Clocktower Radio Profiles

A conversation on collectors with Alanna Heiss and artists Jon Kessler, Dennis Oppenheim and Ena Swansea held at the Clocktower in November 2010. In homage to Oppenheim, who passed away January 21, 2011, and was a friend and inspiration to our staff.

Radio

Clocktower Radio Profiles

AIR's Alanna Heiss and artist Dennis Oppenheim share their memories of P.S.1 during the period of the Heiss-curated 1991 retrospective Dennis Oppenheim: Selected Works 1967 - 1990, which then went on a lengthy...

Radio

Clocktower Radio Profiles

Alanna Heiss hosts Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner of the electroclash act Fischerspooner in advance of their PERFORMA 2009 MoMA show. The dynamic duo spin tracks from their latest album and talk about what it's like to get dissed by Jeffrey Deitch.